National / World

New Delhi, Jun 19 (IANS): Springing a surprise, the BJP on Monday named Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit and a BJP leader, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the July 17 Presidential election.

"We have decided that Ram Nath Kovind will be the NDA Presidential candidate," Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah said after a nearly two-hour meeting here of the party's Parliamentary Board attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders.

He said the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance had been discussing the Presidential election for long.

"The BJP also discussed the issue with all political parties and several sections of the society. After this, a long list (of candidates) was prepared which was discussed during the Parliamentary Board meeting," Shah told the media.

Kovind, 72, who emerged as the dark horse, is likely to file the nomination on June 23, he said. If elected, he will be the second Indian President after K.R. Narayanan to hail from the Dalit community.

The earlier names which were doing the rounds for Presidency included External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

While all NDA allies have been informed of the BJP choice, Prime Minister Modi talked to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders about the NDA choice, the BJP President said.

"Ram Nath comes from a Dalit family and has struggled a lot. We hope he will be the unanimous candidate for the election," Shah said.

He said Kovind had had a long innings in public life and fought for the cause of Dalits and the poor.

An advocate by profession, Kovind was made the Governor of Bihar two years ago after the NDA took power in the centre in May 2014.

He once headed the BJP's Dalit wing. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha for 12 years and was a member of several parliamentary panels.

He had practised law in both High Court and the Supreme Court.

Comment on this article

prem, moodbidri

Tue, Jun 20 2017

As Uddhav Thakre said, nominating Ram Nath Kovind to President post is BJP's political stunt. Upon BJP coming to power at center, the attacks on dalit and backword class people increased drastically, so they are just trying to do "Damage Control" by nominating Dalit leader for top post!

They tried this game during last Bihar assembly election too by trying to use Jitan Ram Manjhi against Nitish Kumar & Lalu, but it didn't work for them. Manjhi, who trusted BJP is destroyed his political career!!!

Karthik Karkera, Maryhill Mangalore

RK, mangalore

Mon, Jun 19 2017

Congress and NDTV tried Lot to separate Daliths from BJP using Cow vs Daliths. Both are most worried at present as they lost their biggest weapon till date they used against BJP. Yes It is indeed purely cast politics.. But no other option to tackle external forces. After Yogi another surprise by BJP

Jeevan, Mangalore

Rakesh, Pune

Mon, Jun 19 2017

Pappu would be best suitable fro President's Post. He is having Vast Political experience and one of the great politician that world ever produced. he is going to setup Aaloo Factory everywhere in India so farmers need not to grow Potato in their fields.

Motherson, ZAMBIA

Mon, Jun 19 2017

when will we end this Dalit bias. Why a country of a billion plus people be subjected to having a president just because he is a Dalit? There are many other eminent personalities who have done the nation proud purely on a merit. Why couldn't they have been considered.? Kovind may be a good person but he is a bad choice. Hope NDA realizes.

Ramesh S, MANGALORE

Mon, Jun 19 2017

..why you see his caste!!..look at his education, long career..he also a lawyer for HC/SC..fantastic selection..clever move by BJP..opposition caught in surprise & in fix..they cant oppose..no one need secular certificate either..

Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

Mon, Jun 19 2017

Another Giani Zail Singh or Pratibha Patil in the making. BJP also played dirty politics like Congress. Although the post is a ceremonial one, the person should have been selected based on ability and not on his humility to the PM. Being the largest democracy, we should have shown to the world that the selection of the country's Head is amongst the most deserving.

Shankar, Mangalore

kas, Mangalore

Mon, Jun 19 2017

Advaniji ......Govinda...... The man , you saved from sos, has put you in Dust bin .... Take it easy Advaniji ........you are already 90.. Not good for rubber stamp .... after stamping, contents not readable .....

Nithin Poojary, Mangalore

Mon, Jun 19 2017

Whom are you fooling, If opposition really wants a contest then they will field a dalit candidate against Ram Nath. Modi has played this game just for dalit votes. So chill give such lame excuses for people who cannot understand politics.

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